Page 7 of The Moonstone Major
“I hope you accept. You really must.”
He tensed. “No, Lady Chloe. I couldn’t.”
“Why not? Everyone will be happy to see you. We are friends, are we not?”
His silence in response to the casual remark obviously hurt her, but he dared not encourage anything more than a casual acquaintance between them.
She emitted a ragged sigh. “May I impose on you a little longer? Will you help me carry the replacement cakes to my wagon?”
“Of course. I won’t leave you to do any of your errands yourself. Do you have any others remaining to be done?”
“No, I only needed to pick up these cakes. Mrs. Halsey has just finished wrapping them up.”
He took a moment to load them into the wagon then returned for her. He lifted her into his arms and set her on the passenger side of the driver’s bench. “I’ll take you to Westgate Hall. But I cannot stay for your celebration. We fell into a puddle, if you will recall. I am fine, but my uniform is caked with mud. I’ll walk back into town after I drop you off. It isn’t far, and I’ll need a little time to cool down or else I will do Lord Claymore physical harm.”
“My gown is muddied, too. But as for your uniform, Melrose will see to its cleaning while you allow us the pleasure of your company. You are about the same size as my brother-in-law. I’m sure he will give you the loan of clean clothes while yours are tended. As for Lord Claymore, he is a viscount, is he not? You will only get yourself in trouble if you hit him.”
“I know.” He grinned as he climbed onto the wagon beside her. “But I still want to hit him.”
Chloe laughed. “Me too. I know these London dandies are good for the economy of Moonstone Landing, but if only they weren’t so arrogant or dismissive of common courtesy while on holiday here.”
“There is no patroness here to keep them in line.”
“Unlike London or Bath,” she muttered.
He quirked a dark eyebrow. “Is that dissatisfaction I sense? Are you not eager to make your London debut?”
“I dread it. I would much rather remain here, where I know I am loved and respected.”
“Lady Chloe, you will take London by storm. You’ll be theton’s brightest diamond.”
“I would much rather be considered Moonstone Landing’s diamond. Truly, why would I wish to put myself in the company of boors like the viscount?”
“Well, you certainly cannot wish to be in my boorish company.” He gave the reins a flick to move the horses along. “Your ankle does not look good. It has swollen to the size of a melon. You had better stay off it for at least two or three days. Constable Angel left word for the doctor to pay you a call when he returns to town.”
“But—”
“Lady Chloe, do not be stubborn about this. Put your leg up, and you are to give the ankle a good soak once I get you home.”
“Moonstone Cottage is my home. I am only at Westgate Hall until I come of age and can move back in there on my own. Sorry, I suppose I sounded quite petulant just now. Are the rumors true?”
“What rumors?”
“I hear you have taken a lease on Moonstone Cottage for yourself and are planning on moving in this week.”
He nodded. “This week or next. Yes, that’s the plan.”
“Since I am not permitted to live there yet, I can think of no one better than you to occupy it. I’m glad you’ve taken it for the year. But why did you do it? To remove yourself from the hospital construction while it is underway?”
“The fort and the hospital construction site are going to be a mess for the entire year. I thought it easier to be able to work in peace and quiet whenever necessary. Not just for me, but on occasion for my officer staff. At some point, we will also have to shuffle patients around, and Moonstone Cottage will be a perfect place to house them temporarily.”
“Why did you not tell me you had let our cottage?”
He shrugged. “I assumed the Marquess of Burness would tell you. He is married to your sister, after all. And you are living with them, are you not?”
“Yes, Phoebe would not have it any other way. But…do you think so little of me that you would not bother to write to me and tell me yourself? Did you get any of the letters I sent you?”
“I did receive them,” he said with a nod. “And I thank you for your kindness in thinking of me. It was rude of me not to respond. The truth of the matter is that I had no idea what to say to you. All I did was work. I thought you would find my news exceedingly dull.”
